Assault Victim Sues Sooner Running Back

SAN JOSE (CN) — A woman sued an Oklahoma Sooner running back who received a 1-year deferred sentence for punching her in the face at a restaurant. Oklahoma University running back Joe Mixon punched Amelia Molitor in the face at Pickleman’s Gourmet Café in Norman, Okla. on July 25, 2014, near an area known as Campus Corner. Mixon took an Alford Plea, in essence pleading guilty but not admitting to the charge of acts resulting in gross injury outraging public decency. He was sentenced to 100 hours of community service and was suspended from the OU football program for one season. Molitor sued in California Federal Court because that is Mixon’s home state. She says she and Mixon had a discussion outside of Pickleman’s that night, which “became heated and animated.” After Molitor entered and sat at a table with friends, Mixon approached them and “the discussion became more heated,” Molitor says. The complaint continues: “In an effort to end the discussion, Molitor pushed Mixon away from their table. Mixon, who was and is a University of Oklahoma NCAA Division 1 football player with great physical stature and strength, forcefully struck Molitor in her face with a closed fist, causing her to sustain fractured bones in her face and other serious and lasting physical injuries.” Mixon was not arrested at the time of the assault, but later was charged with an assault by the district attorney. Mixon entered an Alford plea, which means he pleaded guilty but did not admit to the crime. The fracas produced a previous lawsuit in which the Oklahoma Association of Broadcasters sought surveillance video, which police and the district attorney refused to release, claiming the video was not a public record because Mixon not arrested. The Oklahoma Supreme Court disagreed in May, saying the video was indeed a public record, opening a path for the press to petition the court to release the video to the public. Some members of the media were allowed to see the video in 2014 during the investigation. Ryan Aber, a reporter for The Oklahoman, described the assault: “Mixon lands a devastating right hook that knocks Molitor off her feet. First she hits the table on her left ear, then falls to the ground, where she lays still.” Mixon is highly regarded as a football prospect. He plays running back for the Sooners, one of the top college football programs in the country. After missing a year, he gained 729 yards and scored seven touchdowns last year. Molitor seeks medical expenses, lost income, and punitive damages for willful and wanton misconduct, intentional infliction of emotional distress and negligence. She is represented by Robert Bohn of San Jose. Mixon’s attorney could not be reached for comment.